Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 684,794. Patented Oct. 22, |901.v M. D. CUMPTUN.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application led Feb. 11, .1899.)

WHQEESES.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

MELVIN D. COMPTON, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK `FULLER,TRUSTEE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AcETYLENE-GAs GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION Olmllg part 0f LeTS Patent NO. 684,794, dated OC'GObeI 22,1901.

Application filed February ll, 1899. 'Serial N01 7051333- (NO model-l lTo all whom, t may Concern:

Be it known that I, lWIELvrN DCOMPTON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Orange, in the county of Essex and State of NewJersey, have `invented certain new and useful Improvements inAcetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to acetylene-gas generators, more especially of thekind in which the carbid-holder is automatically plunged into or raisedout of the decomposing liquid.

The object of my said invention is to provide an air and gas tight sealfor the gasholder, so as to enable the carbid-receptacle to be removedfrom or inserted into the gasholder with the minimum escape of gas andthe least possible admission of air when the said receptacle is removedor inserted.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l shows a vertical section of acombined generator and holder provided with a dome containing a liquidseal to which the carbid-receptacle is attached. Fig. 2 shows a verticalsection of the separable carbid-holder and illustrates the manner inwhich the carbid is retained within the perforated holder. Fig. 3 showsa cork float for indicating within a limited range the amount of liquidpresent in the generator.

In Fig. l, A designates the water-tank; B, the gas-holder; C, thedome-seal, provided at the top with perforations l l l for the exit ofthe heated air; D, the carbid-holder; E, the water-reservoir, controlledby the iioat-valve F Gr, the water-supply pipe, controlled by the valvesg and g; G', the water-gage for showing the height of the water inA; H,the gasdelivery pipe; J, an upwardly-acting liquidvalve in thegas-outlet; j, avalve for controlling the gas-outlet; P P, thesafety-pipe, controlled by a weighted liquid safety-valve O. L is a pipeadapted for holding a predetermined quantity of gas in freecommunication with the gas-holder. Z is a valve situated in the pipe Land is normally closed. M is a means for operating the valve Z.

In Figs. 2 and 3 is the perforated carbidreceptacle, within which issuspended, by means of the hooks or a spring-ring l 1, the absorbentcarbid-bag 2.

The reason for the construction illustrated in Fig.. 2 is the following:If the carbid be placed directly in the perforated receptacle 3 withoutthe interposition of the carbid-holder 2, some of the decomposed carbidwill .fall through the perforations, and thereby pollute the liquid in Aand tend to clog the pipes leading thereto; but the greater portion ofit will be deposited on the sides and bottom of the perforatedreceptacle 3, thereby rendering the renewal of the carbid chargedifficult and disagreeable. By the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 theseinconveniences are avoided, and the exhausted carbid can be removed bysimply detaching the bag 2 from the hooks l l. Another object of theabsorbent carbidholder 2 is to admit the liquid gradually to the carbidinstead of directly through the perforations.

The combined generator and holder works in the usual manner.

The renewal of the carbid charge is in the ordinary construction ofgenerators a source of annoyance and danger, because when thecarbid-holder is removed there is an escape of acetylene gas into thesurrounding atmosphere and an entrance of air into the generator. It isdesirable to avoid both these results. It is for this purpose that Ihave invented my improvement shown at the top of the gas-holder in Fig.l.

Upon the top of the gas-holder B there is constructed a liquid seal C'in the form of a cylinder partially or wholly filled with liquid. Intothis plunges the valve d d. This valve has as its body part a cylinderO, exactly filling the space between the internal walls of the seal O',and to its under part is suspended the carbidreceptacle D. The valverests on the top of and closes there the seal C. Referring now to thepipe L, this when the generator is working will always ybe lled withgas, and its size is so proportioned that its cubical contents shallexceed that of the cylinder O for a purpose which is now to beexplained.

If it were desired to renew the carbid in the holder and the valve wereraised out of the sea1,a suction would be produced and air by means of avalve or otherwise would be admitted to the gas-holder but in myarrange- Ion ment when the Ivalve cl d is to be removed from the seal Cthe Valve Z in the pipe L is opened by means of M, thereby relieving thesuction-pressure but the amount of gas in L on account of theconstruction of the latter exceeding in cubioal contents the contents ofthe space left by removing the cylinder C the gas from L will entirelyfill that space, and although there will be air iu the top of the pipe Lnone of it will enter thegas-holder. As this gas at the time of changingthe carbid-holder is under simple atmospheric pressure, little or no gaswill escape into the air and little or no air will enter the top of theholder during the short interval required for insertinga freshcarbid-holder. When the carbid-holder is inserted, the pipe L isconnected with the safety-pipe P/ by the valvel being opened, and boththe air and gas in the dome-seal will be driven out.

As a means of telling how the liquid stands in A, I place in the top,hung over the edge thereof by the hook r, the device shown in Fig. 3,consisting of two cork balls R It', hung as represented. These corkballs will ioat the device, so that the rod R will project above thetops of A. When the water falls, so that the hook r rests upon the rimof A, it shows by properlyadj usting the length of the rod R that thelevel of the water is below the bottom of the carbid-receptacle D. lVheuthe water-gage G', Fig. 1, is employed, the iioat may be dispensed with.

Having thus fully described and illustrated my invention, what I claimis-- l. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with thegas-holder and the deliverypipe therefrom, of a cylindrical liquid sealat the top of the generator, a safety-pipe, anormally closed branch pipeextending from the delivery-pipe to the safety-pipe, said branch pipebeing proportioned to the capacity of the cylindrical seal, for thepurpose of preventing access of air and the escape of gas, substantiallyas set forth.

2. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with the liquid sealofthe gas-holder and gas-delivery pipe of a safety-pipe, a nor mallyclosed branch pipe proportioned to the capacity of the liquid seal andleading from the delivery-pipe to the safety-pipe, and amanually-operated valve, as and for the purpose set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county ot New York and State of New York,this 10th day of February, A. D. 1899. Y

MELVIN D. COMPTON.

Witnesses:

C. L. BELCHER, W. LEMIEN.

